Gopher trap



J. NANTT GOPHER TRAP May 19, 1953 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 29, 1951 F/G. l.

INVENTOR JOHN NAA/T7;

ATTORNEYS May 19, 1953 Filed June 29, 1951 Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES "PAT ENT FFI GE 2,638,70t GoHER'Titii-r John-Nlnth Hebron, N. Dak. Application rune 29, msi-,senat No. 2eme? (omas-a0!) A3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to 'animal trdsjand more particularly to "an improved gogh "tra-p.

A main'obj'ect oT the invention is 'to idea `novel and improved `animal trap espec ally adapted fer'trappiteaooaersanu Similar rodents, the impro-ved ltrap being ys'izniple in construdti'on, involving relatively "few parts, and being reliable in operation. l

A *further object oi the invention is to provide `an improved 'gopher trap 'whieh is inexpensive to manufacture, vWirren is 'sturdy in construction, which provides a `signal when a ygopher has been caught thereinfandwnich is easy to set. l

Further 4objects and advantages or the invention `will 'become apparent `from the renewing descript-.ion and "claims, and from the ac'eoxnpanythe drawings, wherein:

Figure 1` isa .top pian View 'of an improved gopher trap 'constructed accordance the present'invention; 4

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of 'the trap of Figure 1 4shown 'in 'sprung position, asin Figure 1";

`Figure 3 is .a dio'sss'e'etional View'tak'n on the line 3-'3 of Figure 2;

Figurel Vis a cross-sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of Figure l2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective Idetail View of the catch element employed in thev trap 'of Figures :Ito 4; i

Figure f6 `i's a `longitudinal @ross-sectional lView t'iken fon the line B- oiFignre 1, showiri'gl the trap in set position immediately prior to being sprung by a gopher.

Referring to `the drawings, the gopher trap is designated generally at lI and comprises a base member I2 on which is secured a block member I3 of substantial thickness. The block member I3 is formed with a vertical bore I4 and the base member I2 is formed with an opening I5 registering with and of similar size and shape to the bore I4. Secured to the under side of the base member I2 in registry with the opening I5 and bore I4 is the vertical depending tube I6 Which is adapted to be inserted into the opening of a gopher burrow in the manner shown in Figure 6, whereby the passage defined by aperture I and bore I4 will register with the burrow opening.

The block member I3 is formed with a horizontal slot I'I communicating with bore I4, and slidably positioned in the slot I'I is an elongated plate member I8 formed at its outer end w1th the laterally extending arms I9 and 20. The ends of the arms I9 and 20 are connected by respective coil springs ZI and 22 to outstanding screws 2 es, 12e' engaged im the :forward eomerfpertiorisfof the base member t2, .assuma im A@il'figure i, me toil-'springs 21| .and 122 are aisposedfeatwamiy sjacent the longitudinal sid'esof thefblook member I3 and act to urge the plat'emerii'ber I inwardly intere I1., whereby'therorward endor tire plate member .is urged through the bore I4. Thelforwere end of said plate member is :provided Ia plurality of pointed 'spurs or `prongs Z4; :said `toro/ard end being farcuately curved, fas shown at and the spurs 2d :being arranged areuately, fso that tlreir ends 'are simultaneo'nsly fengageable with the `inside surface of the cylindrieal bore 14.

:Designated at '26 is a :lengthiof lee/ther or rawfhide which isrseeured fait 421 t'o` theupl'aite member i8. The flexible member 226 is longitudinally fslit to define `two sect-ions, shown respectively 'at 28 and 29; Seeu'red tothe end of the section 28 vis-a disc nalember 30 which is formed with the V-shaped sheuilder 3i and which is adapted tobe engaged :in thetop end `of the wall of Athe bore- M in the manner Ashow-n in Figure 6, to .partially cover said top end :and to releasably 4hold kthe plate member lI8 an Youtwardly .retractedposition, shown in lFigure 6. As shown inmFigure 6, when the device is thus set, the prongs Mare removed entirely from thebor-e I4 and a. freever tical passage `is defined by tube I6, opening lI5 and-.bore 14,. through which an animal may move.

-disc mein-ber 3i) .partly -covers the top opening of bore rI4.`,Mso that the animal, Vshown at 32 'in 4lgiire 6`, sees the d'sc member/33ers apataldbstruction 'to `the 'top opening of the vertical nassage dened by member I6, opening I5 and bore I4. It will be readily apparent that if the animal attempts to move upwardly in the vertical passage thus defined, the disc member 3B will be pushed out of engagement with the top end of bore I4, releasing the plate member I8, whereupon said plate member will be moved inwardly by the springs 2| and 22, and the animal will be caught by the prongs 24.

Designated at 35 is a bar member which is pivoted at 34 to the end of the base member I2, and whose intermediate portion is connected to the ends of the section 29 of ilexible strip 26. When the trap is set in the manner shown in Figure 6, the bar 35 is in a position dening a small acute angle to the horizontal. When the trap is sprung, the bar member 35 is elevated to a substantially vertical position, as shown in Figure 2. Secured to the free end of the bar member 35 is a flag 36, which may be of any suitable exible colored material.

In using the trap, the tubular member I6 is inserted into a burrow opening through which gophers are known to pass, and the trap is set by engaging disc member 30 with the top end of the Wall of the vertical bore I4. As above eX- plained, when a gopher attempts to leave the burrow through the vertical passage defined by member I6, opening l5 and bore I4, the disc member e30 is pushed out of engagement with the top end of the wall of bore i4 and the trap is sprung, whereby the gopher is caught by the prongs 24 when the plate member I8 moves inwardly by the contraction of springs 2| and 22. At the same time, the bar 35 is rotated to a substantially vertical position, elevating the ag 36 and providing a signal that an animal has been caught in the trap.

While a specic embodiment ofran improved gopher trap has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications Within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. An animal trap of the character described lcomprising a base member having an opening therein adapted to be positioned over the envtrance to an animal burrow, a block member on said base member registrable with the entrance,

said block member having a bore at right angles to the base member in alignment with said opening, a horizontal plate member slidably mounted on said base member, said block member being 4slotted adjacent the bottom of said bore to receive said plate member, spring means adapted tobias the forward end of said plate member into said bore, a shouldered catch member engageable with the top of the wall of said bore in obstructing relation thereto and being disengageable responsive to an upward thrust thereon, and a exible member tensionally connecting said catch member to said plate member and arranged to hold said plate member out of said bore when the catch member is engaged with the top of the wall of said bore.

2. An animal trap of the character described comprising a base member adapted to be posiltioned over the entrance to an animal burrow, a block member rigidly secured on said base member, said block member and base member being formed to define a vertical passage registrable with the entrance, a horizontal plate member slidably mounted on said base member, said block member being slotted at its end adjacent said base member to receive said plate member in said vertical passage, spring means biasing the forward end of said plate member into said passage, a plurality of prongs on the forward end of said plate member, a catch member overlying the top of said passage and having a shoulder engaging the side of said passage and being disengageable responsive to an upward thrust thereon, and a flexible member tensionally connecting said catch member to said plate member and arranged to hold said plate member out of said passage when the catch member is engaged with the top of the wall of said passage.

3. An animal trap of the character described comprising a base member adapted to be posi tioned over the entrance to an animal burrow, a block member rigidly secured on said base member, said block member and base member being formed with an opening to dene a vertical passage registrable with the entrance, a horizontal plate member slidably mounted on said base member, said block member being slotted at its bottom to receive said plate member in said vertical passage, spring means biasing the forward end of said plate member into said passage, a plurality of prongs on the `forward end of said plate member, a disc-like shouldered catch member engageable with the top of the wall of said passage at one side thereof and being disengageable responsive to an upward thrust thereon, a flexible member tensionally connecting said catch member to said plate member and arranged to hold said plate member out of said passage when the catch member is engaged with the top of the wall of said passage, a depending tube secured to said base member in registry with said vertical passage, an indicator pivoted to said base member, and means connecting said indicator to said plate member and arranged to elevate said indicator responsive to the movement of said plate member into said passage.

JOHN NANTT.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 879,010 Schmitt Feb. 11, 1908 1,102,049 Hollis June 30, 1914 1,807,463 Anderson May 26, 1931 

